Live match call: Milan-Barca

Hi, it’s Dennis on a breezy Wednesday in late-March, prepared to bring you one of the finer Champions League quarterfinal matches: leg one of AC Milan v Barcelona.

The Spanish giants are defending champions and favorites to win the competition. I expect them to play possession football in the San Siro. Barca’s midfield is much stronger than Milan’s at the moment. David Villa and Adriano are sidelined by injuries.

This is an older version of Milan, and the club will be without without their pacey attacker, Alexandre Pato, their best defender, Thiago Silva, full back Ignazio Abate and midfielder Mark Van Bommel. Much of Milan’s offensive firepower figures to revolve around their big Swede, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Milan in all white, Barca in blue, red and yellow. Milan faithful display an amazing choreography of a PacMan gobbling a Barca monster. Vintage.

3rd minute: Great chance for Milan, but Robinho mishits it in front of Barca’s net. Messi returns ball to other end, shoots wide. Messi gets a free kick just outside Milan box. Messi slips as he takes it, but it is a wonderful pass to Keita, who just misses open header.

12th minute: Messi is finding space to move with the ball. Milan are giving up possession too easily. Nice period here for Barca who have had ball for more than a dozen passes.

15th minute: Free kick for Barca for Ambrosini foul on Messi. About 40-45 yards….great, deceptive free kick pass by Barca! Tremendous chance for Sanchez, who couldn’t control it in front of Abbiati. The GK appeared to make contact with Sanchez. But no PK called. I’m not sure Sanchez could have reached the ball when he was touched. Barca knocking on the door.

18th minute: Messi scores off a Daniel Alves cross but he is offsides so no goal. Milan have a hard assignment here. Not sure Ibra has even touched the ball once.

20th minute: Unbelievable miss by Ibra in front of goal off a great pass from Seedorf! A minute later, Ibra foolishly gives the ball away in the Barca box. Better spell by Milan here.

23rd minute: Seedorf yellow carded for challenge on Xavi.

26th minute: Abbiati deflects Xavi’s close range shot on goal. Barca look great on half-field possession, Milan content to try and break a counterattack. Barca utilizing eight or nine players in attack, a real joy to watch. When things get tight in the middle, they kick it out to a full back making a run. Milan lucky to retain a clean sheet up to this point.

35th minute: Incredible defensive play by Antonini on Sanchez to stop Sanchez on a breakaway goal! This player Busquets really impresses me! Robinho, well, not so much.

38th minute: Nocerino/Seedorf launch an attack, Seedorf blows volley attempt on goal. One gets the feeling that Danny Alves will play a part in a goal or an assist today. Just a hunch.

42nd minute: Ibrahimovic is often criticized for disappearing in big matches, especially European ones. He’s an arrogant fellow. He needs to show some grinta and start fighting. Him and Robinho form a weak partnership. Combine that with Seedorf’s age, and you’ve got a pretty ineffective attack (though Boateng is fierce).

45th minute: No extra time. The half ends without a goal. But Milan has to be counting its blessings while cursing its tall striker for missing an easy chance. Barca looks poised to score. Milan look vulnerable, way too vulnerable for playing at home. They have a big hill to climb. Barca has been monstrous in possession, crafty with its passing and smart on defense. They can call on Febregas next half.

50th minute: Second half has started. San Siro crowd singing their lungs out, very beautiful, but can it inspire the players? Robinho replaced by 19-year-old striker El Shaaraway. Barca look determined to play a more physical intent tobrand of soccer this half.

55th minute: Match is more even now. Milan is bringing it to Barca. Messi breaks on the counter, is fouled by Nesta, who receives a yellow card. Free kick from about 35-40 yards taken by Messi. He shoots high.

60th minute: Match breaking down a bit. Keita receives a yellow card for challenge on Ambrosini.

65th minute: A more determined Milan is frustrating Barca, but looks a bit ineffective on offense. Messi earns a corner kick, taken by Xavi.

67th minute: Tello Herrara replaces Iniesta for Barca. Coach Allegri removes Boateng for Emanuelson, who gets an immediate chance but but blows it with a poor opening touch.

70th minute: Ambrosini given a yellow card, Milan’s third booking. Milan really needs a goal in this home leg to have a shot at advancing after playing next week in Spain.

73rd minute: Tallo shoots wide, gets yelled at by Messi. Wow, central defender Nesta comes out injured after a heroic return to the lineup. Replaced by Mesbah, a left back.

76th minute: Pedro comes in for Sanchez. Messi’s shot in the box is blocked by a Milan defender. Corner kick to Puyol goes wide of net.

80th minute: Match seems destined for a goalless draw. Grande Tallo, nice dribble into the box, beat his man from the left, but Abbiati is there to stop him. Great match by the Italian GK.

83rd minute: Credit to Puyol and Pique, who made it look so easy in the back for Barca all match playing away under so much pressure.

88th minute: Amazing chance for Barca in the dying minutes! Slip by Mesbah leads to chance by Messi in the box, which is saved by Abbiati, and a rebound shot by Tallo is blocked by Antonini, who again makes a saving tackle in front of goal.

90th minute: Three minutes of extra time. Good result for both clubs considering their condition, but Barca will certainly be favored to advance when the two clubs meet again. First time in 30 CL matches that Barca was held goalless. Milan 0 Barca 0.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you found the commentary useful. See you next time.